Miniature spinning rope



i 3, 1934- J. R. ONEIL 1,953,565

MINIATURE SPINNING ROPE Filed Nov. '7, 1932 INVENTOR. Jbmes E. U/Vei/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATET FFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in miniature spinning ropes, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

6 An object of my invention is to provide a miniature spinning rope which is designed especially to be used as a toy by children. The loop in the cord is fixed as to length, and I provide a lightweight cord and obtain the same results as with a heavier rope by providing weights around the loop. These weights are preferably disposed at equal distances from each other and can take the form of knots tied in the cord, or sleeves enclosing and frictio-nally engaging with the cord. The weights increase the entire weight of the toy and this increased weight permits the use of the light cord. The Weighs are properly positioned on the loop, and under centrifugal force, and also aid in opening it.

The weights not only aid in opening up the loop, but provide means for balancing the loop. If the operator wishes the loop to be weighted more at one point than at another, the knots or the sleeves may be adjusted accordingly. The knots may be loosely tied or tightly tied in order to vary the over-all length of the loop. The sleeves frictionally engage with the cord and remain in adjusted position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described, which is extremely simple in construction and which is durable and el'licient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device showing it in operation;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the hand-gripping end of the toy and shows a part of the device in section; and

Figure 3 shows a modified form of weight.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a cord 1, having its ends tied at 2 for providing a loop 3 of a fixed length. Weights 4 are provided in the loop 3 and are formed by knots tied in the cordl and in the shape of figure eights. The knots 4 are preferably spaced at equal distances from each other and from the knot 2. In this way, the knots 2 and 4 will act uniformly on the loop to open it when the spinning operation takes place, as will be hereinafter described.

A stem or spoke 5 extends from the knot 2 and is provided with a knob 6 at its free end. A sleeve 7 rotatably receives the stem 5 and rides on the knob 6. The knob 6 is larger in diameter than the diameter of the sleeve 7. In Figure 2, I have shown an enlarged View of a portion of the stem 5, and have shown the sleeve '7 in section for the purpose of clarity. One or more sleeves could be used on the stem.

If desired, weighted sleeves 8 can be substituted for the knots 4 and receive the cord 1, as shown in Figure 3. The sleeves may be moved along the cord into the desired positions and will frictionally engage with the cord and remain in adjusted position. The knots 4 may also be loosened and tied at other positions along the cord in order to change the balance of the loop to suit the operator. If the knots are tied loosely, the loop will have a shorter over-all length than where the knots are tightly tied. In this simple way, the over-all length of the loop may be changed slightly. It is obvious that weights of different sizes and shapes may be used, or knots and weights could be used on the same loop.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

In spinning the device, the sleeve 7 is moved up against the ball or knob 6 and is grasped between the thumb and index finger in such a manner as to permit the ball to rotate freely. This grip may be precisely the same as that ordinarily used in taking up a lead pencil. The operator now extends the arm holding the sleeve '7 at least a foot away from the body, and the arm is held at a height sufiicient to prevent the bottom of the loop from touching the fioor. The sleeve is held in a vertical position, and the entire length of the spoke 5 should also hang straight. The knot 2 is then swung gracefully into a horizontal circle, having a diameter approximately equal to that of the loop. The knot may be swung in either direction, and the speed should be just sufficient to cause the loop to draw up into a horizontal plane where it will open out and follow around in the same course described by the knot. In starting the spin, the loop should be kept within the circle formed by the knot 2.

If desired, the sleeve '7 may be made of a flexible material such as rubber so that it can be grasped between the thumb and fingers and forced into a binding relation with the stem 5. In certain tricks performed with the device, the sleeve 7 is gripped to the stem 5. A further way of stopping the rotation of the stem is to grasp the knob 6, which is purposely made considerably larger than the sleeve to accomplish this. The device is a pocket toy and yet, with a minimum amount of effort, a considerable number of professional rope spinners tricks may be performed.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A spinning rope comprising a fixed loop, a plurality of weights spaced equal distances around the loop, and a stem secured to one of the weights, said weights aiding in spreading and balancing the loop while the loop is rotated by the stem.

2. A spinning rope comprising a loop, a stem secured thereto, and a sleeve movable from the free end of the stem into a position adjacent to the loop for increasing the weight of the loop at its juncture with the stem.

3. A spinning rope comprising a loop, weights mounted on the loop and spaced equal distances from each other for providing a balanced loop, a stem secured to the loop, and a sleeve movable from the free end of the stem into a position adjacent to the loop for providing an unbalanced loop for performing certain tricks.

JAMES R. ONEIL. 

